What is Art of The Last Century?

A curated timeline of artists, musicians, graphic designers and writers that shaped the aesthetics of the 20th century.

Where did the name come from?

A bit of a play on Peggy Guggenheim's famed The Art of This Century gallery as well as the idea of the 20th Century as the 'last century' in both senses of the word. In that, I mean it may be the last century where one can actually trace out a historical trajectory in the way you can with Modernism.

How are figures chosen?

Solely by my personal selection as artists of particular importance to me and that I think trace out an aesthetic of the 20th Century

How are writers, graphic designers and musicians chosen?

I'm mostly including writers that wrote about visual art of this period in a way that captured the moment they were writing in at the same high level as the art. Not coincidentally that most of them were also poets and novelists of their own. Musicians were either highly engaged with visual art through their work or created aesthetic worlds analogous to what defined 20th century art. For example, Arvo Pärt and Rothko. Graphic designers were chosen for their contributions to organizing the information and visual structure of 20th Century life.

Why only 1900 to 1999?

The 20th Century is a particular age that feels like it is fading daily. Im interested in how you can visually catalog such an aesthetically dynamic time in a way that doesn't feel like a textbook, as well as examine a particular aesthetic and moral character that runs throughout the century that feels to be lacking in the 21st Century

How do you decide which year to place the artist?

It's largely which time period I feel their work most exists in, feels most relevant to. Part art historical but also personal in that, in some cases, it may have to do with a period in an artist's career where I first encountered them or most associate their work, colored by my own experience.

How often is it updated?

Entries are added when research is complete and images are in order. The date in the header reflects the most recent addition.

Will there only be 100 artists?

We'll see. Maybe 100, maybe 50, maybe I'll find a way to add more if necessary.

Can you recommend some relevant books?

A few to start: The Culture of Time and Space by Stephen Kern, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein, Vile Days by Gary Indiana, Silence by John Cage, Give my regards to 8th street by Morton Feldman, Air Guitar by Dave Hickey, Blank Space by David W Marx (for contrast to the 21st Century)